Sep 29, 2006  |  By: ELIZABETH A. PERRY  | COMMENTS     

Gay marriage emerged as a topic of discussion in a candidate’s forum held last week in Northern Virginia, with a Republican candidate for House of Delegates urging residents to support him because he says his opponent backs same-sex unions.

The forum was held Sept. 21 for candidates in the race for Virginia House of Delegates in District 50, which includes Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park. Republican Councilman Jackson Miller and Democratic opponent Jeanette Rishell are running in a special election to replace the late delegate Harry Parrish, a moderate Republican who served for more than 20 years before his death in March.

Brian Pace, president of Equality Prince William, said the only gay issue addressed by the candidates was the Marshall-Newman amendment that would alter the state constitution to ban gay marriage. Moderate Democrat Rishell opposes the amendment and conservative Republican Miller supports it.

In his closing remarks, Miller said residents should vote for him because his opponent supports gay marriage, Pace said.

Rishell declined to reveal her position on same-sex marriage rights, but said she opposes the amendment because it is too broadly worded.

As a member of the Manassas City Council, Miller is the more politically experienced of the two candidates. He works as a real estate agent and is part owner of a cattle farm in Rappahannock County. He served as a police officer in Prince William and Arlington Counties and was president of the Prince William County Police Association. He is also a former captain in the Army Reserves. Miller declined repeated Blade requests for an interview.

David Lampo, vice president of the Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia, described Miller as extremely conservative.

“Miller is part of the socially conservative wing of the party,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that a relative moderate like Parrish might be replaced by a socially conservative hard liner.”

Rishell has been a member of a number of political organizations, but she has never held elected office before. She was a participant in the 2006 Sorensen Institute Candidate Training Program in Charlottesville. She is a former vice chair of the Manassas Park Electoral Board, a member of the League of Women Voters and the Prince William Committee of 100. She is employed by Carteret Mortgage Corporation.

Lampo said Rishell’s status as a newcomer to the campaign trail may not be a factor in her electability. He said many politicians have won their first elected office as delegates.

“The Democrats are united on the marriage amendment,” he said. “But they walk a fine line on GLBT issues. Republicans will use it against them.”

Parrish was well regarded by Republicans and Democrats alike, and was endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club. He was a member of the House of Delegates from 1982 until his death March 28 at the age of 84. He voted in favor of health insurance benefits for domestic partners.

In an interview with the Blade, Rishell said her priority is transportation, especially in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. She said the state needs a broad-based, sustainable, long-term solution, which can be found through working “across the aisle with civility and respect,” as she said Parrish was known to do.

“I know it’s a tough question to answer,” she said. “Funding decisions need to be made with all options on the table. Senator Chuck Colgan and Harry Parrish were friends who worked across party lines to do the people’s business efficiently.”

Like Parrish, Rishell was endorsed by the Virginia Partisans. The organization’s president, Charley Conrad, said Rishell filled out a gay issues questionnaire sent to her by the group and received a 100 percent rating.

“She’s bringing a good message to her constituents in the 50th District,” said Conrad. “We have contributed to her campaign and support her on issues like illegal immigration, taxes, public schools and transportation.”

Dem’s stance on
gay issues unclear

When asked to discuss her stance on issues affecting gays and lesbians, including domestic partner benefits and the inclusion of gays and lesbians in workplace discrimination policies, Rishell declined to comment. When asked for a copy of the Partisans’ survey results on Rishell’s stance on gay issues, Conrad responded by saying it was against the organization’s policy to release the results.

Although her position on most gay rights issues remains unclear, Rishell opposes the Virginia marriage amendment. She said Virginians should support Gov. Tim Kaine’s call to vote against the amendment Nov. 7 because “the language goes too far.”

“It denies legal recognition to all unmarried couples and we are ...